wreck 1 of 2

1
as in wreckage
the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed found the wreck of the ship lying on the floor of the ocean

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2
as in wrecking
the destruction or loss of a ship the wreck cost the insurance company millions of dollars

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3
as in collision
the violent coming together of two bodies into destructive contact a dangerous stretch of roadway that has been the scene of numerous car wrecks

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wreck

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to scuttle
to cause irreparable damage to (a ship) by running aground or sinking many an unwary captain has wrecked his ship on the shoals that surround the island

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2
as in to ruin
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of most of the furniture on the ground floor was wrecked by the floodwaters

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wreck
Noun
After it was determined that no chemicals had spilled and that there was not an immediate danger to the public, crews followed standard procedures to clear the wreck, Hopkins said. Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2025 Technical divers should try the newest wreck, the 196-foot-long ex-oil tanker, MV Hephaestus, which sits at a depth of nearly 164 feet off the corner of Red Bay. AFAR Media, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
There were other worries at the conference about what issue, or which faction, might wreck the project. David Weigel, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2025 Kitchens were wrecked, and diners were an endangered species. Beth D'addono, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wreck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wreck
Noun
  • More than two years of civil war in Sudan have displaced 12 million people, killed at least 150,000 (and likely far more than that), put 25 million people in danger of starvation, and left wide swaths of physical wreckage.
    Lynsey Addario, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2025
  • While Good Samaritans were able to rescue five of the nine passengers from the wreckage, Angie was still inside, struggling to free herself.
    Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The wrecking begins when Carey (Marvin), Paul’s best friend, ill-advisedly sleeps with Julie—and then, more ill-advisedly still, confesses it to Paul the next day.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Its systems act as a 3D camera, tracking up to 15,000 collisions each second.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Callahan was given citations for following too closely, failure to exercise due care to avoid a collision with a horse on the highway, and unreasonable speed, according to authorities.
    Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Plans for a 2015 tour were scuttled after Davies was diagnosed with multiple myeloma.
    David Chiu, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Wake up with the distinct call of the Asian koel and walk the silica shores as hermit crabs scuttle by and baby blacktip reef sharks play in the lapping waves.
    Katie Lockhart, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.
    Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Our family has been ruined by Denise's lies of promising to end a year-long affair.
    Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Vipsun Cordless Vacuum Run the vacuum over hard floors and carpets to suck up dirt, pet hair, dust, crumbs and other debris.
    Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Second, wind can blow dust, leaves, sticks, and other debris onto your wet stain, leaving a mess that is nearly impossible to clean up.
    Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • He was charged with felony counts of leaving the scene of crash involving death, driving without a license causing death and resisting arrest, the sheriff’s office said.
    Mark Price, Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The crash of Eastern Flight 212, ultimately, was an avoidable tragedy.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Two married sea-explorers are stranded, Gilligan-style, after a storm shipwrecks their craft.
    Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025
  • That fresh story finds Daryl and Carol shipwrecked in Spain after setting out from England on a boat and fighting a losing battle against a storm.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 26 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Wreck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wreck. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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